No White House envoy to Thatcher funeral? Update: Boehner sending House delegation

posted at 10:01 am on April 16, 2013 by Ed Morrissey

And the British government is apparently unhappy about it, too. Sources within Whitehall told the Daily Mail that the Obama administration’s decision to skip sending an envoy to what has become a de facto state funeral for one of America’s staunchest Cold War allies came before the Boston terrorist attack yesterday, and that the White House had cited a “busy week” for the reason they couldn’t even spare Joe Biden for Margaret Thatcher’s funeral:

Friends and allies of Baroness Thatcher expressed ‘surprise and disappointment’ last night as it emerged President Obama is not planning to send any serving member of his administration to her funeral.

Whitehall sources have revealed that the US delegation at tomorrow’s service in St Paul’s Cathedral will be led by two Reagan era secretaries of state: James Baker and George Shultz.

Though President Obama himself had not been expected to attend, there had been speculation that he would be represented either by Vice President Joe Biden or wife Michelle. However, the Obama administration had said it would not be attending Thatcher’s funeral before the Boston bombings.

The Queen’s decision to attend Lady Thatcher’s funeral has effectively elevated it to a state occasion unprecedented for a political figure in Britain since the death of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.

Other world leaders, including Canada’s Stephen Harper, Mario Monti of Italy and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, are attending the service in person.

Normally, that would prompt attendance by a high-level figure in the US government — if not the President or Vice-President, a high-ranking Cabinet official. For instance, why not send John Kerry, the Secretary of State tasked with maintaining good relations with close allies like the UK? Instead, the US delegation will consist of two men who would be traveling as private citizens to the funeral already, essentially giving an official policy of ignoring the event and snubbing the other world leaders attending it.

And why? Obama and Biden are too busy pushing gun control, according to the US embassy:

But a US embassy spokesman confirmed that no serving member of his administration would be present to pay their last respects, citing a busy week in US domestic politics.

‘This is a hugely significant week in terms of US domestic politics,’ a spokesman added.

He said that both the First Lady and the Vice President were ‘the President’s point people on gun control’, adding: ‘This is a week when there is a lot of movement on Capitol Hill on gun control issues.’

Well, Kerry isn’t part of that, is he? (Oh, wait ….) They’re too busy to pay respects to someone who stood by America as a stalwart partner in the latter years of the Cold War, when it might have been easier for her to keep her distance. Shameful. And it’s not being ignored in the UK, either:

Former defence secretary Dr Liam Fox, Lady Thatcher’s closest ally in modern-day politics, said: ‘I think it would be both surprising and disappointing if after President Obama’s fulsome tribute to Lady Thatcher, the American administration did not send a senior serving member to represent them.’

Sir Gerald Howarth, chairman of the Thatcherite Conservative Way Forward group of MPs and peers, said: ‘The bonds forged between the UK and the US through Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher was instrumental in ending the Cold War and liberating millions of people.

‘That the present administration feels unable to be represented as the world marks the extraordinary contribution Margaret Thatcher made will be a source of disappointment to those who served with her in that great endeavour.’

Smart power.

Update: Just as a reminder, Congress decides separately on delegations to events such as this. I’d expect to see both the House and Senate send small delegations to the funeral.

Update: Just received by e-mail, but it actually came out yesterday:

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) today announced he will send a delegation to London this week to represent the U.S. House of Representatives at the funeral of Baroness Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of the United Kingdom. The delegation will be led by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

“Margaret Thatcher was one of the greatest champions freedom has ever known, and her funeral gives Americans and friends around the world an opportunity to pay final respects,” Boehner said. “I’m pleased that Congressman Blackburn will lead a House delegation to Baroness Thatcher’s funeral to communicate our prayers and condolences to her family and the British people.”

The House delegation to London will also include Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and George Holding (R-NC).

The House delegation will fly to London on commercial air flights, in compliance with the Speaker’s directive that Member use of military air transportation be suspended with sequestration in effect.

Also, our ambassador in London should attend the funeral, but that’s not the same as sending a delegation representing the head of state.

There are no words (ones I can say without being banned, anyway). Nothing but a middle finger to Britain and to Thatcher…without her standing shoulder to shoulder with us the 80’s and beyond could’ve looked very different.

Welcome to Smart Power America, Brits. Remember when all of Europe was getting orgasms over the thought of Barky running the show over here, yeah so do I. Reap what you sow, you supported a polished dog turd and when the bright polish has worn away you are left with…well…a dog turd.

I think this is the litmus test for who’s a conservative and who’s not…

Skywise on April 16, 2013 at 10:03 AM

Former Presidents are not the same thing as sending an envoy. And between GWB’s recent back surgery and GHWB’s age, I can understand why they may not want to travel to London. But not even sending our Secretary of State? This is a slap in the face by a petulent rat-eared commie.

I hope we can get every prominent Democrat to go on the record: “yes or no, The President should attend her funeral?” Just to cover their asses you might see people like the Clinton’s going as private citizens, but that isn’t good enough. The President should be there out of respect for her contributions to our country.

Yet one more ideological indicator of how far off the center-lineage Democrats have gone. Chavez, yes, Thatcher, no. Truly unbelievable.

Too busy with important things? From the same classless idiot who gets out of town during budget negotiations, fiscal cliff negotiations, healthcare negotiations…and .auto-pens documents because he “needs” to go to Asia…err, Hawaii?

He can’t go…he’s an avowed anti-colonialist who has a deep rooted hatred for the Brits…they jailed his uncle you know…

Can’t send Biden…he’s a drunk Mick…hates the Brits…has a propensity for saying the wrong thing all the time, every time…

Can’t send John F. Kerry…he’s one of those closet IRA supporters…thus anti-Brit…might letgo one of the few Gaelic phrases he knows…Póg mo thóin!

Can’t really send anyone active in this current Administration…they are all at a minimum anti-Conservative…and Thatcher represents all they despise…

A real President, a true statesman, would ask for a delegation of those once-in government who knew Margaret Thatcher, who worked with her, who respected her, to attend, along with the president, to show respect for an ally, and for a truly remarkable world leader….umm, Thatcher,not Obama.

Sure, why not. A massive police presence complete with SWAT teams and bomb-dogs couldn’t stop this attack, but the cops will be there within a minute if a woman is being attacked in her own by an intruder. So why would anyone need a gun?

Sure, why not. A massive police presence complete with SWAT teams and bomb-dogs couldn’t stop this attack, but the cops will be there within a minute if a woman is being attacked in her own by an intruder. So why would anyone need a gun?

You bigots make me laugh.

Bishop on April 16, 2013 at 10:23 AM

So that story a few months ago about Union workers smoking weed on the job wasn’t just an isolated incident?

Though I think if they were sending an envoy there’d still be howls that Obama himself wasn’t going, this is wrong and improper.
As worthy of criticism as I find Thatcher (or Thaterism, really),
she led England for 11 years. She wasn’t a dictator. She wasn’t a criminal. It’s just fair play that the US would be properly represented here – and ‘too busy’ isn’t an acceptable excuse.
Bowing respectfully to protocol isn’t an endorsement for various policies enacted under Thatcher.
Bad move.

Obama will be a pimple on the butt of history. Thatcher moved mountains, with us, and for us. So who do you think we’ll send to Nelson Mandela’s (when he does pass away) funeral? Who embraced the PLO, Libya, and Cuba? Who was head of the ANC which was full of communists? It boggles the mind.

Obama has very challenging issues to deal with right now and had he chosen to attend the funeral, he prob would’ve been bashed for taking a vacation while the US is facing such dire straights.

Think about the money he’s saving by not going…since ppl here often criticize the costs of his travels.

nonpartisan on April 16, 2013 at 10:15 AM

It’s an intentional snub. He could have sent any number of administration officials. Not only does Obama hate Great Britain with a burning passion he hates Thatcher for not being a comrade in arms. He wants to cut ties … period.

His actions towards any conservative government or official is blatantly obvious … except to those who don’t want to see.

Obama will probably succeed in destroying what’s left of America and ten years from now you’ll be going “How could I have been so blind”?

I’m TALKING about getting guns out of society because police can be everywhere at once to respond to everything, I mean they managed to stop a terrorist bombing yesterday when there were hundreds of cops in attendance.

…without her standing shoulder to shoulder with us the 80′s and beyond could’ve looked very different.

changer1701 on April 16, 2013 at 10:05 AM

I don’t know if it needs to be pointed out, but that’s exactly why Obama isn’t deigning to send anyone from his administration.

It is also a purposeful snub to Great Britain.

makattak on April 16, 2013 at 10:30 AM

Obama doesn’t even stand with Britain and the 99% of the Falkland Island residents who prefer British rule as they’ve had for hundreds of years. Britain might as well say that Texas belongs to Mexico. And he calls it the (sic, sick, sick) “Maldives” too. He’s despicable.

I hate to say this, but the Brits brought this on themselves by not giving her an official state funeral in the first place.

If it’s not important to them, then why should it be important to us?

More importantly, it gives Obama political cover for not sending a White House delegation. That would be mandated if it was a state funeral. Now it’s not.

Chris of Rights on April 16, 2013 at 10:22 AM

The Queen’s decision to attend Lady Thatcher’s funeral has effectively elevated it to a state occasion unprecedented for a political figure in Britain since the death of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.Other world leaders, including Canada’s Stephen Harper, Mario Monti of Italy and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, are attending the service in person.

No they don’t care at all and it isn’t important to them.
The Queen attends funerals all the time.

The Speaker of the House is the closest equivalent in status to the Prime Ministe. The White House should have asked John Boehner to head the US delegation.

It is against protocal for an ex-President to represent the United States or even attend unless specifically asked by the White House. The only exception to this would be if Ronald Reagan were alive and well since they had a special political relationship.

Obama is snubbing the British because he does not consider them his allies. He is more of Chavez kind of guy. Like many people who falsify their biographies, he has come to believe the lies that he wrote about his father’s family are true. Dreams From My Father indeed.

Wait, I thought these folks could multi-task. Isn’t that what they told us early on about why he took so many people with him on vacation? And why so many folks for the shopping trip to Spain? Oh well, whatever lie is fit to print, I guess.